Panthers Honors: 2013 Defensive Awards

Most of you are probably shocked to see that Luke Kuechly's name isn't listed here, and that's understandable given Kuechly's outstanding second season (team highs of 176 tackles and four interceptions).

But here's the thing: Thomas Davis was just as good.

Davis – who played all 16 games for the first time since 2008 – finished second on the team behind Kuechly with 151 tackles. He recorded a career-high four sacks, seven quarterback pressures, two interceptions and eight passes defensed.

And he compiled all those statistics while playing both the strongside and weakside linebacker spot in Carolina's 4-3 defense.

Kuechly easily could have been the choice here, but he often deflects credit to his teammates, and this time I listened. Hardy was a pass-rushing force, leading the team with 15 sacks to tie the single-season franchise record set by linebacker Kevin Greene in 1998.

Mitchell emerged as a vocal leader in the secondary in his first season as a Panther and recorded 74 tackles, four interceptions, four sacks and two forced fumbles. Short – Carolina's second-round draft choice – provided an interior pass rush and tied for second on the team with 21 quarterback pressures.